Faith comes from trust on something. It is very important to have faith.
by Khenpo Tashi
The use of faith in Buddhism is, to keep us in that way, in that direction, that we are going to originally. Actually, faith has deeper purpose than that. But this is the general use of faith.
We do some prayers and practices to accumulate merit and purify Karma. Science, society and the school, they don’t teach that. They normally think emotions and self-clinging are nice and great! If we don’t have a single grain of faith, we will not do those two (merit accumulation and purifying negative Karma). So, faith keeps us on that path of the Triple Gems.
Engaging in those two activities, we are slowly closing the door to the three lower realms for ourselves. In this present life, as a human being, whether we are rich or poor, if we follow those two, we are also closing the door to unnecessary sufferings, fightings and misfortunes between our friends, families and enemies. Faith is important in that way.
In this generation, faith is very hard to come by. Just look around. So many distractions! This and that new product, this and that new show. Also, it is said that this generation is the Nyig-ma-nga (Tibetan: Age of the Five Degenerations). (READ: Finding Time for the Dharma). So, there are many obstacles to having faith in the Buddha’s teachings.
Actually, the distraction mainly comes from our mind. This means, it is not the fault of outside distractions that we are always under the power of the five poisons. It is our fault. The five poisons in us are so strong and hard. So, when we see an outside distraction, the internal distraction (of the five poisons) in us are jumping restlessly. The outside distraction is just a support.
That is why, the pig, the rooster and the snake are found in the middle of the Wheel of Life. They are the center of all the problems! These three (or five) poisons are the main problems of our lives.
If our mind has strong faith in the Triple Gems, reasonable faith, not blind faith, then, even if all kinds of beautiful things and objects are laid out in front of us, desire (or the other four poisons) will not overwhelm our minds. So, the distracting object outside is powerless, because inside us, the five poisons are not jumping wildly.
That is very wonderful, isn’t it! One is not controlled by strong emotions of desire, anger, pride, jealousy, ignorance. How rare and precious is that state?